CS/HB 529 — Florida Fire Prevention Code

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by:
Banking and Insurance Committee (BI)

The bill establishes a 3-year exemption to the Fire Prevention Code to allow for the limited placement of waste containers and waste within the hallways of apartment buildings that utilize a doorstep waste pickup service.

Under the bill, a doorstep waste collection service may operate in apartment buildings with enclosed corridors served by interior or exterior exit stairs if waste is not placed in exit access corridors for longer than 5 hours; waste containers do not occupy exit access corridors for longer than 12 hours; and waste containers do not exceed 13 gallons. For apartment buildings with open-air corridors or balconies serviced by exterior stairs waste cannot be placed in exit access corridors for longer than 5 hours; there is no limit on how long waste containers may occupy access corridors; and a waste container size may not exceed 27 gallons. In all cases the management of an apartment complex utilizing a doorstep waste collection service that would operate under this new law must have written policies and procedures in place and enforce them to insure compliance. A copy of such policies and procedures can be requested and must be provided to the authority having jurisdiction. Additionally, waste containers may not reduce the means of egress width below that required under NFPA Life Safety Code 101:31.

The bill provides that the authority having jurisdiction may approve alternative containers and storage arrangements that are demonstrated to provide an equivalent level of safety and must allow apartment occupancies a phase-in period until December 31, 2020, to comply with the requirements of the bill. The provisions of the bill are repealed on July 1, 2021.

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2018.